Reservoir

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a liquid retaining and dispensing apparatus which has a reservoir adapted to retain a liquid therein, an inlet port, an outlet port, a valve adapted to mate in sealing engagement with said outlet port and movable valve displacing means adapted to displace said valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port. In the various embodiments disclosed, the outlet valve is preferably a spherical valve, with various forms of movable valve displacing means to engage the valve. The reservoir may be of the type adapted to operate under pressure, while in other embodiments disclosed may be a conventional unpressurized type.

United States Patent 1 Sept. 12, 1972 Sharp 41 RESERVOIR [72] Inventor: David H. Sharp, 318 Linnert Crescent, Strathmore, Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: March 30, 1970 [21] Appl. No.1 23,938

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 31, 1969 Great Britain ..16,818/69 [52] US. Cl. ..4/28, 4/58, 4/60 [51] Int. Cl. ..E03d 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..4/28, 27, 18, 20, 19, 26, 57, 4/60, 67

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,589,691 3/1952 Griffon ..4/28 2,714,723 8/1955 Griffon ..4/28 X 3,324,481 6/1967 Emerson et a1 ..4/28 963,707 7/1910 Gosse ..4/27 1,062,148 5/1913 Fraser ..4/27

2,659,089 1 1/1953 Griffon ..4/28 3,041,629 7/1962 Pratt ..4/28 3,553,741 1/1971 Owens ..4/28 2,714,722 8/1955 Griffon ..4/26

Primary Examiner-Frederick L. Matteson Assistant ExaminerHenry K. Artis Att0rney-Lawrence I. Field [5 7] ABSTRACT The invention provides a liquid retaining and dispensing apparatus which has a reservoir adapted to retain a liquid therein, an inlet port, an outlet port, a valve adapted to mate in sealing engagement with said outlet port and movable valve displacing means adapted to displace said valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port. In the various embodiments disclosed, the outlet valve is preferably a spherical valve, with various forms of movable valve displacing means to engage the valve. The reservoir may be of the type adapted to operate under pressure, while in other embodiments disclosed may be a conventional unpressurized type.

5 Claims, 29 Drawing Figures PATENTED 12 I972 3.689.943

sum mar 10 INVENTORQ David H. SHARP A TTORNE Y PATENTEDSEP 12 I972 SHEET DEUF 10 INVE1\; TOR David HJSHARP PATENTED SEP 12 (972 v v INVENTOR David H. SHARP PATENTEDsEmwn Y 3,689,943 SHEET UQUF 10 ,INVENTOR Duv' id H. SHARP ATTORNEY PATENTEOSEPI'Z m2 3.689.943 sum as or 10 Me B? INVENTOR David H. SHARP A TTORNE Y PATENTEDsEP I2 1912 3. 689 .943 sum as or 10 11 I IIII I I.

INVENTOR David H. SHARP ATTORNEY PATENTEDSEP 12 I912 3.6 as .943

SHEET O8 UF 10 Ill/ 11v! 5 INVENTOR David H. SHARP PATENTEDSEP 1' 2 I972 SHEET 100F 10 1 lull/r 71 1111/? Dov id H. SHARP INVENTOR ATTORNEY RESERVOIR This invention relates to a reservoir apparatus.

More particularly, this invention relates to a reservoir apparatus for the semi-automatic emptying and refilling of reservoirs adapted to retain a liquid.

The apparatus of the present invention has varied applications, one such application being for use as a liquid retaining reservoir such as is employed in residential and industrial toilet systems, and for description purposes, the apparatus of the present invention will be described with respect thereto, it being understood that the apparatus may be used for other applications and is not limited to the specific use referred to.

In the commercially available standard type water reservoirs used for toilet systems, typically there are approximately 30 major parts. When these parts become worn, or are defective, it is normally a relatively expensive task to replace the parts, involving a fair amount of labor. Additionally, the number of moving parts in conventional reservoir systems are fairly numerous, which also adds to the relative complexity of certain of the systems.

With this invention, applicant has developed a much simplified reservoir for the semi-automatic emptying and refilling of such reservoirs, which simplifies in some of the embodiments the number and nature of the components normally associated with conventional systems, and in addition provides more efficient emptying and refilling characteristics of the reservoir. Other and more specific objects will become apparent from the following description.

In general terms, with this invention, there is provided a liquid retaining and dispensing apparatus having a reservoir adapted to retain a liquid, an inlet port and an outlet port in said reservoir, a valve adapted to mate in sealing engagement with the outlet port and actuatable means adapted to displace the valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port.

According to one form of apparatus of the present invention of the above type, the apparatus includes an enclosed pressure and liquid tight reservoir having an inlet and an outlet port, a movable buoyant outlet valve adapted to mate with the outlet port in liquid sealing engagement therewith, movable valve displacing means in the reservoir adapted for movement about a fixed path, the movable valve displacing means being mounted in the reservoir in operative relationship to the movable outlet valve whereby movement of the displacing means is adapted to cause the movable outlet valve to be displaced from sealing engagement with the outlet port.

A preferred embodiment of the above includes guide means adapted to guide the valve into sealing engagement with the outlet port, which guide means may in one example take the form of restraining means permitting the passage of liquid therethrough in the reservoir surrounding the outlet port which limits the movement of the buoyant outlet valve or in another form, takes the shape of guide means such as guide rods surrounding the outlet valve. If desired, the above embodiments may be provided with pressure release means operating in conjunction with the movable displacing means, said pressure release means being adapted to release pressure from within the reservoir upon actuation of the displacing means to displace the outlet valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port.

1n the above embodiments, the reservoir may be of any suitable shape and size, which depends on the proposed use and liquid requirements for any given application. A typical application, as herein mentioned, is a reservoir for toilet systems and the reservoir may be adapted to hold anywhere from 1 to 5 gallons of water. Larger systems will require correspondingly larger liquid volumes.

Typical of the overall shape of the reservoir are rectangular, circular and oblong shapes in cross-section; this being dependent on the physical limitations of the installation and locus of use of the apparatus.

The reservoir may be constructed of any suitable material, such material being liquid tight and capable of withstanding pressures, the degree of which will depend again on the application of the reservoir. Typical materials include metals and resinous substances, such metals being for example steel, aluminum, various types of alloys; typical resinous substances being materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., as well as foamed resinous materials such as polystyrene, etc. In the above embodiments, where the reservoir is pressure tightthat is capable of withstanding pressure exerted by compressed air in the system as a reservoir fills up with water, it will be understood that conventional construction techniques may be employed to ensure against leakage due to pressure failure. Thus, in the case of the reservoir being made of metal, the various seams may be welded or otherwise joined in pressure tight engagement; in the case of most resinous substances, by adhesives or suitable heat sealing methods. If desired, the reservoir may be provided with a service aperture for maintenance purposes; the service aperture being provided with suitable sealing gaskets to permit the reservoir to be maintained in a pressure tight condition.

The size of the inlet and outlet ports of the reservoir will depend on the desired flow and discharge capacities required for a given application; in general terms the outlet port is normally capable of exhausting a greater volume of liquid as opposed to the volume of liquid entering through the inlet port into the reservoir. In turn, however, depending on the flow volume through the inlet'port and the pressure exerted thereby, the inlet port may be of the same size as the outlet port in terms of area, since the outlet port will normally tend to discharge a greater volume of liquid under pressure and by gravity than that which will enter through the inlet port.

In the above embodiments, a movable buoyant valve is employed for the purpose of preventing liquid escape through the outlet port. To this end, most desirably, the valve is of a substantially spherical shape to obtain the most advantageous features of the present invention. However, oblong or other similar geometrical configurations of the valve capable of forming an effective seal with the outlet port, may also be employed.

The degree of buoyancy of the outlet valve is preferably such that the valve is freely floatable in the liquid held in the reservoir to obtain all of the advantages of the apparatus. However, the degree of buoyancy need not be such that it is such that the valve will, in a free floating condition, extend substantially above the surface of the liquid but rather, only with a portion of the valve being capable of floating on top of the surface of the liquid. The invention may be successfully employed where there is a sufficient difference between the density of the valve and that of the liquid to permit the valve to freely rise without too great a time lapse.

The buoyant valve may be made of any suitable material, the choice of any particular material depending primarily on the type of liquid to be retained in the reservoir. Obviously, the material should be insoluble and not affected by the liquid. The material may form a solid or hollow valve, such materials which may be used include plastic solid and hollow spheres, hollow metal spheres, foam hollow or solid spheres, etc.

Preferably, the buoyant valve operates in conjunction with a seating ring surrounding the outlet port to effect the most advantageous seal to prevent liquid escape, from the outlet port. To this end, the seating ring may be of any suitable type including, e. g. gaskets, etc. Preferably one of the seating ring or of the spherical valve is of a slightly compressible material whereby when pressure is exerted on the sphere, the seal engagement between the seating ring and the valve is more positive. Thus, for example, if the sphere were made of a slightly resilient plastic material, the seating ring is preferably made of a metal, or vice versa.

The movable valve displacing means will, in most cases, be a manually actuated mechanism; however, in larger applications, a power assisted actuation means may be employed for displacing the outlet valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port. Where the displacing means is manually actuated, any suitable lever or handle, externally mounted or located on the reservoir, and connected to a suitable valve engaging member, may be employed. The valve engaging member may be a flight screw or a rotatable shoe, rotatable on or about a fixed path. A flight screw has the advantage that lower manual force is required to displace the valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port; however, this will depend on e.g. the amount of pressure actually exerted in the reservoir.

In the embodiment where guide means of the abovedescribed type are employed to aid in positioning the buoyant valve, the guide means may either restrict the area of travel of the buoyant sphere or alternately serve to locate the buoyant sphere upon the water level in the reservoir being lowered by discharge, about the outlet port. Guide means are desirably included in the reservoir where the reservoir is of a relatively large area and/or is of a generally rectangular shape. In the case of a circular configuration for the reservoir, the inherent shape of the reservoir will guide the valve into operative relationship with the outlet. port.

If desired, the above-described type of apparatus may be provided with a pressure release system adapted to decrease the amount of force required to displace the valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port. To this end, the pressure release system may include a conduit one end of which is located at or near the top of the reservoir, which conduit is in communication with the atmosphere, with a suitable valve being disposed therein, preferably a one-way type valve. A particularly preferred form of said pressure release system includes means adapted to open the valve simultaneously with or before the displacing means displaces the valve in the reservoir from sealing engagement with the outlet port.

ln operation of the above embodiments, assuming the reservoir to be empty of liquid, water will be flowing into the reservoir under line pressure, with the buoyant outlet valve being in sealing engagement with the outlet port of the reservoir. The existing air in the reservoir will be compressed at the top of the reservoir as the water flows in and builds up in the reservoir, until the point is reached at which the line pressure equals that in the reservoir. To discharge the apparatus, the movable valve displacing means, actuated by e.g. a manual lever, displaces the valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port whereupon water is permitted to discharge from the outlet port. If the buoyant spherical valve is not restrained, it will float to the top of the liquid and will descend with the liquid as the latter is discharged through the outlet port. Liquid begins flowing into the reservoir as soon as the outlet valve has been displaced; and as the reservoir empties, the water level lowers the valve until it is brought into sealing engagement with the outlet port at a lower water level, whereupon the pressure being exerted from the inlet line will maintain the outlet valve in sealing engagement with the outletport to refill the reservoir.

According to a further development, there is also provided apparatus of the above described type, which comprises an enclosed liquid and pressure tight reservoir adapted to retain a liquid therein under pressure, an inlet port and an outlet port in said reservoir, a resilient movable deformable'outlet valve adapted to surround said outlet port in sealing engagement therewith to normally prevent fluid escape from said reservoir, movable displacing means in operative relationship to said valve adapted to deform said valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port of said reservoir whereby said movable displacing means upon deforming said valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port pemiits liquid to be discharged from said outlet port.

In addition, according to the above further embodiment, there may also be included pressure release means operating in conjunction with said movable displacing means, said pressure release means being adapted to release pressure from said reservoir upon actuation of said displacing means to deform said valve.

In the above apparatus, the liquid and pressure tight reservoir is preferably of the type previously described, as with the inlet and outlet ports. Similar movable displacing means to those described above may also be employed. In addition, if desired, a further type of displacing means hereinafter described may be advantageously employed.

In this embodiment, the outlet valve is of a resilient movable, deformable type, adapted to deform by movement of the walls or sides of the valve to permit liquid discharge from the reservoir. To this end, the outlet valve may be made of any suitable resilient deformable material, such as rubber or various types of resilient resinous materials, for example polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. The construction of the outlet valve and/or the material so chosen rendering the outlet valve deformable, must not be such that it is readily deformable due to the pressure in the reservoir but rather, is selectively deformable by the movable displacing means. Moreover, the material must be such that upon being deformed, it is capable of being returned to its original shape for cyclical operation of the apparatus. Preferably, the outlet valve is of a hollow, semiaspherical shape, with suitable bridging means to be connected to opposed side walls of the valve whereby the bridging means, upon being constricted, moves and deforms the side walls to displace the valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port. The bridging means may be any suitable arrangement such as a movable or collapsible guide rod. The displacing means is preferably connected to the bridging means whereby movement of the displacing means moves or collapses the bridging means to draw inwardly the side walls. However, the bridging means may be of a further type to outwardly displace the side walls to break the sealing engagement of the valve with the outlet port. In the case of manual operation, the movable displacing means will include a suitable handle connected by one or more arms to the bridging means between the the opposed walls of the valve. It has been found most advantageous that the manual displacing means be mounted externally of the reservoir, and connected to the valve through the discharge outlet.

If pressure release means are included in the above embodiment, it may be of a type similar to that previously described.

In operation, the above type of apparatus functions similarly to that with respect to the previously described operation of the first-described embodiment. Thus, the outlet valve normally in sealing engagement with the outlet port, and upon the reservoir containing a liquid under pressure, is movably deformed to permit liquid to escape through the discharge port whereupon liquid from the inlet port, under pressure, is introduced into the reservoir. The liquid after being discharged from the outlet port, and upon the release of the force acting on the outlet valve from the movable displacing means, whereupon the valve due to its resiliency returning to its original shape, again surrounds the outlet port in sealing engagement, permits the reservoir to be filled to a level at which the internal pressure in the reservoir equals that of the line pressure.

According to a further development, there is provided a modification of the above first-described embodiment, which comprises an enclosed liquid and pressure tight reservoir adapted to retain a liquid therein under pressure, said reservoir having an inlet port and an outlet port, a buoyant movable outlet valve adapted to surround said outlet port in sealing engagement therewith to normally prevent fluid escape from said reservoir, movable valve displacing means adapted to displace said valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port, said movable displacing means being mounted externally of said reservoir and in operative relationship with said valve whereby movement of said movable displacing means displaces said buoyant outlet valve from said sealing engagement.

In addition, the apparatus may include liquid permeable restraining means in said reservoir surrounding said outlet port adapted to restrict the movement of said buoyant outlet valve.

If desired, the apparatus may also include pressure release means operating in conjunction with said movable displacing means, said pressure release means being adapted to release pressure from said reservoir upon actuation of said displacing means to displace said valve.

In this further development, the enclosed liquid and pressure tight reservoir, the inlet and outlet ports, the buoyant movable outlet valve, the outlet valve restraining means and the pressure release means may be of the type described previously with respect to the firstdescribed embodiment. With this further development, however, the movable valve displacing means which is adapted to displace the valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port, is mounted externally of said reservoir, and preferably comprises movable means adapted to abut the outlet valve from beneath the outlet port to dislodge the valve. To this end, the movable means may comprise a guide rod having a valve engaging surface such as a shoe member or projection thereon, which upon rotation, is brought into contact with the valve. In the case of a manually operable movable valve displacing means, such guide rod may include a handle or lever; alternatively, the guide rod may be power assisted, as in the case of larger reservoirs which have a substantial degree of pressure build up therein.

The operation of this embodiment is substantially similar to that described with respect to the first embodiment, and reference may be had to the abovedescribed operation for this purpose.

According to a further development, there is also disclosed herein a further type of reservoir comprising an enclosed liquid and pressure tight reservoir adapted to retain a liquid therein under pressure, an inlet port and an outlet port in said reservoir, a buoyant movable outlet valve adapted to surround said outlet port in sealing engagement therewith, movable valve displacing means mounted in said reservoir in operative relationship to said valve, said movable valve displacing means comprising a reciprocating valve engaging member connected in spring-loaded operative relationship to a rotatable member, said rotatable member being rotatable from an initial position whereby rotation of said member reciprocates said valve engaging member into a valve engaging position to displace said outlet valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port while placing said rotatable member under tension, whereby said rotatable member freely returns to said initial position.

In addition, a desirable form of this development includes guide means to guide the valve into sealing engagement with the outlet port upon liquid discharge from the reservoir, and further includes pressure release means operating in conjunction with said movable displacing means, said pressure release means being adapted to release pressure from said reservoir upon actuation of said displacing means to displace said valve.

In this particular development, the reservoir, inlet and outlet ports, buoyant movable outlet valve, the pressure release means and the guide means are most desirably of the type described hereinabove with respect to the first-described embodiment, and reference may be had to the above description for this particular development.

The movable valve displacing means in this development is of a type which reciprocates between an initial position and a valve engaging and displacing position, and is preferably spring-loaded for manual operation. To this end, the valve displacing means preferably includes a manually operable lever or handle springloaded whereby rotation of the handle or lever in one direction places the valve engaging member, which may be a shoe or plate or projection, into valve engaging position, and upon release of the handle or lever, the latter is free to return to its initial position by the spring-loaded feature. Spring-loading of the handle or lever may be by any suitable conventional device for this purpose.

The operation of this development is substantially similar to that described with respect to the first development and again reference may be had to the preceding description for this purpose.

According to a still further development a reservoir apparatus may also comprise a liquid and pressure tight reservoir adapted to retain a liquid therein, said reservoir having an inlet port and an outlet port, a movable outlet valve adapted to surround said outlet port in sealing engagement therewith to normally prevent liquid escape from said reservoir, movable valve displacement means adapted to displace said valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port, and control means adapted to control said valve when displaced from sealing engagement with said outlet port, said control means having an interconnected buoyant float portion and a non-buoyant valve retaining member, said float portion and retaining member being pivotable about a fixed axis whereby when said valve is displaced by said movable valve displacing means, said valve is placed under control of said retaining member and said float. portion rises, and whereby when said liquid in said reservoir discharges, said float member is effective to displace said valve from said retaining member into sealing engagement with said outlet port. Again, this apparatus may include pressure release means operating in conjunction with said movable displacing means, said pressure release means being adapted to release pressure from said reservoir upon actuation of said displacing means to displace said valve.

The reservoir having the inlet and outlet ports may be of the same general construction as previously described with respect to the first-described development. Preferably, in this development, however, the

movable outlet valve is of a non-buoyant nature and is preferably of a generally spherical shape so as to remain in contact with the control means. However, if desired, the outlet valve may be buoyant with suitable liquid permeable retaining means surrounding the path of movement of the outlet valve to retain it under control by the control means. Where the control valve is of a non-buoyant type, it may be made of any suitable material possessing these characteristics.

A preferred form of the control means comprises spaced-apart angularly disposed supporting surfaces interconnected together at a pivot point. One of the surfaces, being a buoyant surface, may be made of any suitable buoyant material, the size and shape of which will depend on the limitations as to the size and shape of the reservoir. The other supporting member forming a portion of the control means is adapted to retain the movable outlet valve upon being displaced from sealing engagement with the outlet port. Its function is to retain control of the outlet valve when it is displaced and to guide the valve back into the area surrounding the outlet port.

Any suitable movable displacement means may be employed to displace the outlet valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port, such displacement means may be of any of the types previously described which act to abut the outlet valve from interiorly of the reservoir or alternately, from externally of the reservoir by passing through the outlet port. In the case where the reservoir is adapted to be manually actuated a suitable manually operable handle or lever may be connectcd to the displacing means.

In a variation of the last-described development, a further development of a reservoir apparatus may comprise a liquid tight reservoir adapted to retain a liquid therein, said reservoir having an outlet port and an inlet port connected to actuatable liquid flow closing means, a first movable outlet control valve adapted to surround said outlet port in sealing engagement therewith to normally prevent liquid escape from said reservoir, a second movable buoyant liquid inlet valve adapted in one position to actuate said liquid flow closing means to prevent liquid flow into said reservoir at a desired high liquid level point in said reservoir, movable valve displacement means adapted to displace said outlet valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port, and control means comprising a pair of opposed interconnected valve retaining members pivotable about a fixed axis at or about where said pair of retaining members are interconnected, said outlet valve being movable between said retaining members, one of said members being mounted in operative relationship to said outlet port whereby when said outlet valve is under control of said one member said outlet valve is effective to seal said outlet port, the other of said members being adapted to receive said outlet valve when displaced from sealing engagement with said outlet port by said displacing means, said one member having a further control member attached thereto adapted for engagement by said buoyant valve whereby when the liquid level in said reservoir is lowered, said buoyant valve in a second position is adapted to engage said further control member to displace said outlet control valve from said other valve retaining member into engagement with said one member.

In this further development, the reservoir is not pressure tight but rather, is open to atmospheric pressure. Hence, the reservoir may be made of any conventional material suitable for this purpose which does not have to be capable of being pressure-tight. Any of the materials previously described for use for this purpose may be employed in this embodiment.

In this embodiment, the inlet control valve, being a movable buoyant valve, is preferably of the type hereinbefore described as a buoyant outlet valve, and may have the same characteristics and be of the same materials. The outlet control valve is preferably of a non-buoyant material, and again preferably of a generally spherical shape. The control means most desirably is in the form of a pair of angularly disposed interconnected supporting surfaces pivotable about the point of interconnection. One of the supporting surfaces is desirably provided with an aperture of a size sufficient to permit mating of the outlet valve with the outlet port, the other being a supporting surface adapted to control the displacement of the outlet valve when not in sealing engagement with the outlet port. If

desired, however, the outlet valve may also be of a buoyant spherical type, in which case, the supporting surfaces would be provided with suitable liquid permeable restraining means adapted to limit the path of travel of the valve during displacement from sealing engagement with the outlet port.

The liquid flow closing means connected to the inlet port preferably takes the form of a flexible conduit connected at the inlet port to the inlet liquid supply, which flexible conduit is compressible by a lever actuated by the buoyant inlet control valve to compress the flexible tubing and stop liquid flow into the reservoir. However, other similar arrangements may also be employed wherein the buoyant liquid control valve actuates suitable means to stop liquid flow.

The buoyant liquid control valve is also efi'ective in this embodiment to cause the outlet valve to return from the supporting surface onto which it has been displaced by the displacing means to return into sealing engagement with the outlet port. In this respect, any suitable means may be provided for displacing the outlet valve from sealing engagement with the outlet port, such means being for example, a movable handle or lever connected to one of the control surfaces surrounding the outlet valve, etc.

In operation, the outlet valve displacing means, upon actuation by e. g. a handle will displace the outlet valve to place it under control of the control means whereby liquid may be discharged through the outlet port of the reservoir. The buoyant inlet control valve will lower according to the level of the liquid in the reservoir and upon liquid being substantially discharged, will abut or engage the further control member thereby to cause the control valve to move again into sealing engagement with the outlet port. The liquid level, upon rising, floats the inlet control valve which upon reaching a predetermined height, actuates the liquid in that valve to close off liquid flow into the reservoir.

The above described embodiment may also include overflow means adapted to discharge excess liquid from the reservoir in case of accidental overflowing or malfunction of one of the components.

According to an alternate development of the lastdescribed embodiment, a non-pressurized liquid retaining reservoir may be comprised of an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port being connected to actuatable liquid flow closing means, a first movable outlet control valve adapted to surround said outlet port in sealing engagement therewith to normally prevent liquid escape from said reservoir, a second movable buoyant liquid inlet valve movable between first and second positions and adapted in one position to actuate said liquid flow closing means to prevent liquid flow into said reservoir at a desired high liquid level point in said reservoir, and in said second position to permit liquid flow through said closing means into said reservoir, movable valve displacement means adapted to displace said outlet valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port, and control means comprising a pair of opposed interconnected valve retaining members pivotable about a fixed axis at or about where said pair of retaining members are interconnected, one of said retaining members being mounted in operative relationship to said outlet port whereby when said outlet valve is under control of said one member, said valve is eflective to seal said outlet port, said outlet valve being movable between said one of said retaining members and the other of said retaining members upon said displacing means displacing said outlet valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port, said one retaining member being movable between said second position of said inlet valve wherein said one retaining member engages said inlet valve, and a further non-engaging position whereby when said one retaining member is moved to said engaging position with said inlet valve, said inlet valve is eflective to move said one retaining member from said engaging position with said inlet valve to said further non-engaging position whereby said movable outlet control valve is moved from said other retaining member to said one retaining member and said outlet valve is efiective to seal said outlet port.

A preferred embodiment of this form is where the outlet valve is a non-buoyant spherical valve and said inlet valve is a buoyant spherical valve, said inlet valve being connected to fixed guide means whereby move ment of said inlet valve between said first and second positions is adapted to actuate said liquid flow closing means; and if desired, the apparatus may include overflow means for excess liquid discharge in the case of malfunctioning of the reservoir.

In this apparatus, the reservoir, the outlet control valve, the buoyant inlet valve and the liquid flow closing means are preferably of the type described with respect to the hereinabove described last development. In this embodiment, however, the buoyant liquid inlet valve is preferably connected to fixed guide means in place of having a free floating valve. Additionally, the control means preferably comprises a pair of opposed angularly disposed supporting surfaces, one of which controls the outlet valve upon displacement from sealing engagement with the outlet port, the other of which is effective upon engagement by the floatable or buoyant valve, to displace the outlet valve from control of the control means back into sealing engagement with the outlet port. As described hereinabove with respect to the last embodiment, the outlet valve is desirably non-buoyant although by providing suitable restraining means a buoyant valve may also be employed.

The operation of this embodiment is substantially similar to that previously described.

In a still further embodiment, there is also disclosed a further development which comprises a liquid tight reservoir adapted to retain a liquid therein, said reservoir having an outlet port and an inlet port, said inlet port being connected to actuatable liquid flow closing means, a first movable outlet control valve adapted to surround said outlet port in sealing engagement therewith to normally prevent liquid escape from said reservoir, said movable outlet control valve being pivotably mounted between a first open position whereby liquid may discharge through said outlet port and a second closed position, a second movable buoyant liquid inlet valve movable between first and second positions and adapted in one position to actuate said liquid flow closing means to prevent liquid flow into said reservoir at a desired high level liquid point in said reservoir and in said second position to permit liquid flow through said closing means into said reservoir, said movable buoyant liquid inlet valve in said second position being adapted to contact said outlet valve in said open position of said outlet valve and to move said valve into said closed position at a low water level in said reservoir, and movable valve displacement means adapted to displace said outlet valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port in said closed position and to move said outlet valve into said open position. A preferred form of this development is 1 wherein the buoyant valve is a buoyant spherical valve and said outlet valve is a sealing disc adapted to surround said outlet port, said sealing disc being pivotally mounted on one side thereof for movement between horizontal and vertical positions; and if desired, liquid overflow means may be included.

In this further development, the outlet control valve as opposed to the previously described versions is preferably in the form of a sealing disc with the buoyant inlet control valve being adapted to place the same in sealing relationship with the outlet port upon the latter being displaced therefrom by suitable displacing means. The hereinbefore described buoyant inlet valve, outlet valve displacing means and liquid flow closing means may be suitably employed in this development.

In all of the above described forms of the liquidretaining reservoir, suitable means such as a liquid permeable screen may be provided at the liquid discharge port to prevent or control splashing due to the pressure exerted on the liquid in the pressurized systems.

The above-described reservoirs have the advantage over prior art teachings of improved and more efl'ective operation for discharging liquids from the reservoir on demand. These apparatus provide novel control means which are more effective than previously proposed control means and find wide application in various industries and fields which require reservoirs of liquid to be emptied and automatically filled for repetitive or cyclic operations.

The above-described apparatus may be connected to any suitable system where liquid is required in cyclically dispensed volumes. The inlet port may be connected to any suitable supply of the liquid, normally a continuous supply under pressure e.g. a water supply line. In using the apparatus as a water reservoir for toilet systems, the inlet port will be connected to a water supply, normally under pressure of e.g. 25 to 60 psi. Typically, the inlet port may have a diameter anywhere from one-fourth to one-half inch for domestic uses, although larger sizes for industrial applications may be used to supply larger volumes of liquid for faster filling.

The outlet port will be connected by any suitable means to where the liquid discharge is to be used. The outlet port will normally have a diameter several times that of the inlet port; in conventional toilet systems, from one to several inches. The size of he movable outlet valve in the various embodiments will always be sufficient to engage the outlet valve in sealing relationship and hence may vary considerably depending on the outlet port size.

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments and in which FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a liquid reservoir of on apparatus employing a spherical valve with a variable pitch screw flight, part of the front wall of the reservoir being removed to show the internal components;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with a portion of the top removed to show the internal arrangement of the components;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a reservoir of a further variation of the apparatus of FIG. 1, again employing a valve and a variable pitch screw flight, a portion of the front wall of the reservoir being removed to show the components therein;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 4, part of the side wall being removed to show the components therein;

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a further type of apparatus employing a deformable resilient valve, a portion of the front wall of the apparatus being removed to show the components therein;

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged front wall elevation section of the apparatus of FIG. 7 with certain of the components removed for clarity;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 8 showing the components in greater detail;

FIG. 11 is a section taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a section taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation of a portion of a further type of apparatus employing a buoyant valve, the elevational view showing the front wall removed and the working components in the reservoir;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the reservoir shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the manually operable means shown in FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the lower portion of a further type of apparatus showing the components in the reservoir;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front elevational view of a further type of apparatus, the front wall of the apparatus having been removed to illustrate the components in the reservoir;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 18 with the side wall of the apparatus having been removed to illustrate the components therein;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 18 with the top wall having been removed to illustrate the components;

FIG. 21 is a front elevational view of a further type of apparatus, the front wall of the apparatus having been removed to illustrate the components therein;

FIG. 22 is a section taken along the line 22-22 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a section taken along the line 23-23 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a front elevational view of a further type of apparatus with the front wall removed to illustrate the components therein;

FIG. 25 is a section taken along the line 25-25 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a section taken along the line 26-26 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a section taken along the line 27-27 of FIG. 24;

FIG. 28 is a front elevational view of a further type of apparatus with the front wall removed to illustrate the components therein;

FIG. 29 is a section taken along the line 2929 FIG. 28.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is illustrated one embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention suitable for use as a toilet tank, which includes a generally rectangularly shaped enclosed liquid and pressure tight reservoir indicated by reference numeral 30 made of, for example, metal. The reservoir includes a water inlet port at the bottom thereof to which inlet conduit 32 is connected in sealing engagement, with a valve 34 being the conventional shut-off type. Valve 34 is normally in an open position to supply water to the reservoir 30.

Reservoir 30 includes a discharge outlet port of a larger size than the inlet port and connected thereto a discharge conduit 36 shown as a U-shaped elbow with an optional screen 38 therein, the flange 40 of the discharge conduit being adapted to be connected to eg a toilet. The screen functions to limit or prevent water splashing on initial water discharge through the outlet.

The device of FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a movable fluid sealing valve adapted to mate with the outlet port in a liquid sealing engagement; in the embodiment shown this includes a buoyant spherical ball 42 of, for example, metal, plastic or rubber. To facilitate sealing engagement with the discharge outlet of the reservoir 30 there is also included a seat 44 surrounding the discharge port. This embodiment of the invention desirably employs liquid permeable restraining means defining a relatively small area in the reservoir in comparison to the overall reservoir area which is adapted to restrain the movement'of the buoyant sphere 42; the embodiment of the restraining means shown consisting of a plurality of upwardly extending wire rods 46 connected to top wire member 48 which define an enclosure limiting the movement of the sphere 42. If desired, there may also be included guide plates 50 in the reservoir the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

Connected to the exterior of the reservoir are manually operable actuatable means as, for example, handle lever 52 pivotable about an arcuate path and mounted on shaft 54 extending through the reservoir wall 30, suitable sealants, e.g. gaskets (not shown) being provided where shaft 54 extends through reservoir 30 to prevent liquid and pressure escape from the reservoir. Connected in operative relationship to shaft 54 is movable means in the reservoir adapted for movement about a fixed path, the movable means comprising a screw flight 56 connected to the shaft 54 by arm 58; the screw flight most desirably being of a variable pitch type for reasons hereinafter described.

In use, the pressurizable water tight reservoir 30 is filled from water inlet conduit 32, the water level in the reservoir 30 being determined by the point at which the pressure in the reservoir is the same as the pressure in the supply conduit 32, at which point the water ceases to flow into the reservoir 30. Thus, the air initially in the reservoir is compressed at the top of the reservoir,

to a depth of e.g. to 2 or 3 inches depending on the supply line pressure.

In the above description, it has been assumed that the sphere 42 was in a water-sealing engagement with the seat 44 as it normally would be during non-use of the apparatus. To discharge water from the reservoir 30, manually operable handle 52, normally in the lower position illustrated in FIG. 1, is raised through the fixed path of travel indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 to a position indicated by reference numeral 52', whereupon the screw flight 56 abuts and dislodges sphere 42 from sealing engagement with the outlet port to permit the water to commence to flow through the discharge outlet 36. Successive movement of the handle 52 through its path of travel will cause the screw flight 56 to move the sphere 42 away from the discharge outlet and the suction otherwise initially created by the water being discharged into the outlet, at which point when the buoyant sphere is free from the suction, its inherent buoyancy will permit it to rise to the top of the restraining cage.

Due to the use of a screw flight 56 of a variable pitch, suflicient leverage is provided to permit the buoyant sphere 42 to be dislodged from sealing engagement with the seat 44 using a minimum acceptable pressure on the handle lever 52. Following the spherical valve being dislodged and floating to the surface of the water level, the handle lever 52 will then return to its normal position by gravity.

During the water discharge operation, the pressurized compressed air in the reservoir re-expands providing a smooth discharge of the water as no new additional air needs to enter the reservoir. As will be evident, the reservoir pressure will thus vary from the inlet supply pressure to approximately zero pressure differential upon discharge of the water from the reservoir; however, pressure is maintained by the expanding air.

After the spherical valve 42 has been dislodged from sealing engagement with the outlet port and seat 44, water begins flowing into the reservoir from the inlet conduit 32, which increases as the spherical valve 42 moves out of complete contact with the outlet port, to the maximum flow capacity of the inlet conduit. Due to the size of the discharge port and the pressure in the reservoir water flows out of the reservoir at a greater rate than it enters, and the water level in the reservoir is lowered until it is nearly empty. The spherical valve 42 rides down on the lowering water level until it is guided by the restraining means and suction into sealing engagement on the seat 44 surrounding the outlet port at which time the water stops flowing from the reservoir.

Due to the preferred spherical nature of the valve 42, the valve presents an almost infinite number of seating positions instead of the conventional single position as in most ordinary types of reservoir discharge systems. Thus, the life of the valve is increased substantially as it will seat in many different positions.

The spherical valve 42 will not refloat as the water enters the reservoir after it has been emptied due to the pressure build-up in the reservoir which is sufficient to overcome the buoyancy of the valve. This will be evident by the fact that the valve is sitting on a seat which is open to atmospheric pressure and is therefore subject to an unbalanced pressure on the top of the valve equal to the area of the seat below it multiplied by the internal pressure. Thus, by way of example, employing a spherical buoyant valve with a 4 inch outer diameter and a 3.5 inch internal diameter, there is obtained a cubic volume of 21.4 inches. Using material for the valve which provides it with a fully submerged buoyancy of 0.8 pound and using the above-described apparatus connected to a water inlet supply having a pressure of 50 pounds per square inch-with a depth of water in the reservoir of approximately 12 inches, the pressure in the reservoir after the valve has seated and water has risen 1 inch would be calculated as 50/ l 2 to yield 4.15 pounds per square inch; with the water level risen 2 inches; pressure of 8.3 pounds per square inch, etc.

In above embodiment, using a seating area for the spherical valve of a 2 inch diameter, there would be obtained a seating area of 3 square inches which would yield an unbalanced pressure on the top of the sphere where at 1 inch water depth, would be equal to approximately 12 pounds; at 2 inches water depth of approximately 25 pounds and at 12 inches approximately 150 pounds, using a fully submerged buoyancy factor of approximately 0.8 pound. Thus, as will be seen, the apparatus of the present invention will provide and maintain contact between the spherical valve and the outlet port and more particularly the seat surrounding the outlet port thereof, after the water has been discharged from the reservoir to prevent the spherical valve from rising.

A typical apparatus of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 may have a height of approximately 20 inches, a width of approximately 8 inches and a length of about 14 to 20 inches, depending on the liquid capacity of the reservoir desired. As previously mentioned, it may be made of various types of metals or resinous materials possessing a required degree of rigidity and capable of withstanding pressure normally encountered during the use of the apparatus. Although not illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, or in subsequent embodiments, the apparatus may be provided with a removable opening to provide access to the interior components for servicing purposes; if such an opening is provided, it must be of a pressure and liquid tight type to maintain the integrity of the system.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6, the embodiment illustrated therein is similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 3 and common parts have been designated with similar reference numbers. In this case, however, the reservoir is of a generally cylindrical shape indicated by reference numeral 30' and includes similar inlet and outlet ports, inlet and outlet conduits, and manually actuatable means similar to that described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3. In this case, however, the shape of the reservoir, in combination with laterally and angularly disposed guide rods 49, are provided for the purpose of guiding the sphere 42, as will be hereinafter described; the guide rods 49 replacing the use of the restraining means described in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The operation of theapparatus of FIG. 4 is substantially identical to that of FIGS. 1 to 3, with the exception that as opposed to FIGS. 1 to 3, the restraining means does not restrain the movement of the buoyant spherical valve. Upon discharge of the liquid from the reservoir in the manner described hereinabove, the

buoyant spherical valve will rise to the surface of the liquid, and thereafter be guided into sealing engagement with the outlet port upon lowering of the liquid level, the guide rods serving to guide the valve into sealing engagement with the outlet port.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 12, the liquid reservoir is indicated generally by reference numeral 60 and comprises a sealed enclosed rectangular reservoir capable of withstanding liquid pressure having a liquid inlet port connected to a liquid conduit 62, the latter being provided with a shut-off valve 64. The reservoir also includes an outlet port and connected thereto is a discharge conduit 66 in a fluid and liquid tight engagement. As with the other embodiments previously described, there may be provided an optional screen 68 in discharge conduit 66 for the control of water discharge splashing. Discharge conduit 66 includes a flange 70 adapted to be connected to e.g. a toilet.

Surrounding the discharge outlet is a seat ring 72, operating in conjunction with a resilient, deformable hollow semispherical valve member 74 which includes a flat bottom surface, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Although reference in the following description is made to the valve 74 being resilient and deformable, the valve member may also be non-resilient and nondeformable whereby the valve displacing means will, by pressure exerted on the valve, displace it from sealing engagement with the seat 72. Connected to the opposed walls at the bottom of the valve 74 is a flexible bridge member 76 provided with an aperture 78 therein.

The embodiment also includes manually operable means adapted to permit discharge and refilling of the reservoir 60 which includes a handle 80 mounted in the sideof the discharge conduit 66 by means of a ball seal 82. Handle 80 includes an extension 84 provided with a pivot point indicated generally by reference numeral 86, about which arm 88 pivots. Arm 88 is connected through the aperture 78 to the flexible bridge member 76, nut 90 being threaded onto the terminal end of the arm 88.

Depressing the manually operable handle 80 will thus result in the arm 88 being raised and bulging of the flexible bridge member 76 inwardly of the valve 74 in the manner shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 9. In this way, the opposed sides of the compressible valve 74 are drawn inwardly to permit liquid to be discharged through the discharge outlet 66.

In this embodiment, there may be included an optional pressure release member which includes a pressure release pipe 92 extending from the upper portion of the reservoir through to the discharge outlet and terminating therein as indicated generally by reference numeral 94 (FIG. 10). A movable non-buoyant ball member 96 is located therein at the terminal end in communication with the discharge outlet 66, which normally seals the pressure release pipe against escape of the pressure inside the reservoir.

In this embodiment, the extension 84 may include an air release finger projection 98 at one end thereof, which when moved during the operational cycle of the handle 80, will strike the movable ball member 96 forcing it inwardly of the pressure release pipe to permit air to be exhausted from the top of the tank reservoir thereby facilitating discharge of the liquid stored in the reservoir through the collapsing of the walls of the sphere 74.

In operation, the shut-off valve is normally in an open position permitting liquid to flow through conduit 62. Assuming the reservoir to be full, wherein the air is compressed at the top of the reservoir by the inlet liquid pressure, and the outlet valve 74 to be in sealing engagement with the seat 72 surrounding the discharge port, the movable outlet valve displacing meansthat is the handle connected to rod 88, is depressed downwardly whereby the rod 88 pushes the bridging mechanism upwardly into the semispherical outlet valve 74 causing the sides of the valve to collapse or deform, thereby permitting liquid to discharge through the outlet port. Upon continued downward movement of the handle 80, the outlet valve will be pushed into the position shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 9, thereby increasing the liquid flow volume through the outlet port. The pressure in the reservoir will then descend to zero pressure differential or slightly above. In the form illustrated, where there is an added pressure release mechanism, movement of the handle 80 downwardly will cause the air release finger projection to strike the movable ball member 96 forcing it inwardly of the pressure release pipe 92, thus releasing the higher initial pressure in the reservoir and facilitating downward movement of the handle 80.

As the liquid begins to drain from the reservoir, liquid from the inlet conduit begins to flow into the reservoir; the liquid flow being less than that being exhausted through the outlet port will permit the reservoir to substantially empty.

Release of the downward pressure on the handle 80 will permit the semispherical valve by its resilient nature to assume its original shape where it is of a resilient, deformable shape and drop back into sealing engagement with the seat 72. Liquid from the inlet conduit may then refill the reservoir, reaching a predetermined level where the reservoir pressure equals the inlet pressure whereupon the flow from the liquid inlet conduit stops.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 to 15, there is illustrated a further embodiment of the present invention which includes a liquid reservoir 100 which is fluid and pressure tight (the top part of the reservoir 100 not being shown but being of a sealed nature, similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 12).

Connected to reservoir 100 is a water inlet 102 provided with a shut-off valve 104 normally in open position for operation of the unit. The reservoir 100 also includes a discharge outlet connected in fluid tight engagement with a discharge conduit 106 provided with a flange 108 adapted to be connected to e.g. a toilet. The discharge 106 may also include an optional screen 110 adapted to regulate and prevent splashing of water exiting through the discharge conduit 106.

In this embodiment, there is provided a pressure release pipe or conduit 112 extending from near the top of the reservoir 100 (similar to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) to the discharge conduit 106 (see FIG. 14). Suitable sealing means are provided for preventing escape of water in the reservoir at the point where the conduit 112 extends through the bottom of the reservoir 100. The lower end of the conduit 112 is provided with a housing 114 retaining a small pressure release ball or sphere 116 (FIG. 13) where it normally rests on a seat within the housing.

A movable liquid closing valve is included in the reservoir 100, and comprises in this embodiment a buoyant spherical valve 118 normally in sealing engagement with a seat 120 surrounding the discharge outlet of the reservoir. The liquid permeable restraining means adapted to limit the movement of the buoyant valve 118 are mounted in the reservoir 100, the restraining means comprising a cage of spacedapart bars 122, the spacing between the bars being of a size smaller than that of the sphere.

To permit discharge of liquid L-shaped the reservoir 100, a manually operable handle 124 is provided, connected to an arm 126 movably journalled'in bearings 128 within the discharge conduit 106. At the point where the arm 126 extends through the discharge conduit 106, suitable sealing means (not shown) are provided to prevent the escape of water to the outside. Connected to the arm 126 is an angled L- downwardly extending lever indicated generally by reference numeral 130 and including a curved lower arm portion 132 which includes a bearing surface adapted to engage the ball valve member 116. Arm 126 also includes a U-shaped bend 134, and terminates in bushings 136 which movably journals it. The U-shaped bent portion is normally in a horizontal position when not in use, and is adapted to rotate from the horizontal into operative engaging relationship with the valve 118 upon the discharge device being operated as now described.

In operation, assuming the reservoir is full with the air being compressed at the top thereof and the outlet valve in sealing engagement with the outlet port, at which point the flow of liquid into the reservoir does not occur due to pressure balance between the reservoir and that of the inlet supply, the manually actuatable handle 124 is depressed thus rotating arm 126 with a U-shaped bend 134 thereon, and bringing the latter into engagement with the surface of the outlet valve 1 18 to displace the same from sealing engagement with the seat 120. In this embodiment where there is included a pressure release system, the extension 132 upon actuation of the handle 124 will engage the ball valve member 116 depressing it inwardly into the pressure release conduit 112, thereby permitting the pressure build up to be exhausted from the reservoir and facilitating displacement of the outlet valve 118 from its seat 120.

Upon displacement of the outlet valve, the liquid may then exhaust through the discharge outlet and the buoyant valve 118 then rises, its movement being restricted by the restraining means 122. At the point where the valve 118 is displaced from sealing engagement with the seat 120, the liquid from the inlet supply begins flowing into the reservoir; the volume of liquid being exhausted through the outlet port exceeding that coming into the reservoir whereupon the liquid level being lowered carries the buoyant valve 118 back into sealing engagement with the outlet port and seat. Once the outlet valve re-engages in sealing engagement with the outlet port, the liquid then builds up to the level at which the inlet supply pressure equals that in the reservoir. For the reasons previously explained with respect to FIGS. 1 to 3, the buoyant valve remains in contact 

1. A liquid reservoir adapted to retain a liquid under pressure comprising an enclosed liquid and pressure tight reservoir for retaining a body of liquid therein under pressure, a liquid inlet port and a liquid outlet port in communication with said reservoir, a buoyant movable outlet valve adapted to surround said outlet port in sealing engagement therewith to normally prevent liquid escape from said reservoir, a discharge conduit connected in fluid tight engagement with said liquid outlet port, a gaseous outlet port in said discharge conduit and in communication with the upper portion of said reservoir, said gaseous outlet port being in communication with the atmosphere, and valve means in said gaseous outlet port to normally seal said outlet port whereby built-up atmospheric pressure in said reservoir is normally retained therein, flowable displacing means in operative relationship to said buoyant movable outlet valve adapted to displace said valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port of said reservoir, gaseous pressure release means operating in conjunction with said movable displacing means for said outlet valve whereby said gaseous pressure release means is adapted to release gaseous pressure contained in said reservoir upon actuation of said movable displacing means for said outlet valve whereby when said latter means is actuated, said gaseous pressure release means is adapted to release gaseous pressure from said reservoir and said movable displacing means is adapted to displace said buoyant movable outlet valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port to permit liquid to be discharged from said reservoir through said outlet port.
 2. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said buoyant movable outlet valve comprises a resilient, buoyant movable deformable outlet valve, said movable displacing means for said outlet valve being adapted to deform and displace said outlet valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port of said reservoir.
 3. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said movable displacing means comprises manually operable movable means adapted to displace said buoyant movable outlet valve and said gaseous pressure release valve upon manual actuation of said movable displacing means.
 4. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes liquid permeable restraining means in said reservoir surrounding said outlet port adapted to restrict the movement of said buoyant outlet valve.
 5. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said movable displacing means comprises a rotatable displacing means adapted to displace said outlet valve from sealing engagement with said outlet port upon rotation of said rotatable means. 